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On 11/8/2015 1:16 PM, Robert Dickow wrote:<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">True,
You don’t need to have a religion in order to live a moral
life. Atheists can follow the same moral principles that
‘govern’ God him/her/it-self . (See Plato)</span></p>
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<br>
Yes, Plato and Aristotle and a large number of subsequent writers
including, recently, Michael Sandel, author of Justice: What's the
Right Thing To Do? It's a pretty good read -- not nearly as dense
as many philosophers -- and, published in 2009, not too out of date
with its examples.<br>
<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">But
the study doesn’t look into how adults behave. Maybe
religious children are jerks, but maybe religious adults are
more moral than atheist adults. …but somehow I doubt that
this be the case.</span></p>
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<br>
Both cases of adults you mention are equally moral in the same sense
that they both breathe -- it's a natural function for both groups.
What may differentiate them is the quality and the character of
their considerations, if any, before they decide on the judgments
they accept. More important than their current positions on various
matters is having a process for considering changes in those
positions as the world changes, and for discussing any changes under
consideration with others within their various communities.<br>
<br>
<br>
Ken<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:034c01d11a6a$aea32cc0$0be98640$@com"
type="cite">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Bob
Dickow, troublemaker<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">(trying
to revive the subjunctive)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext">
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com">vision2020-bounces@moscow.com</a>
[<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com">mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com</a>] <b>On Behalf Of
</b>Debi Smith<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, November 07, 2015 4:04 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] Religious Kids Are
Jerks<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Well, now
someone has "studied" what most of us<span
style="font-size:13.5pt"> knew</span>! You do NOT need
religion to be a moral person, and religion might just be a
detriment to behaving decently to others. How's them sour
apples, Mr. Wilson (and other folks) who say religiosity is
the only way people have joy, compassion, beauty, and decency
in their lives?<br>
<br>
What is more beautiful than sharing good fortune with others,
with assisting people who are in need, with giving back to and
accepting <span style="font-size:13.5pt">everyone</span>
regardless of their financial
standing/opinions/sex/race/sexuality? <br>
<br>
Religiosity breeds judgmental-ism, negative behavior towards
others not like you, and a sense of "self-righteousness" that
allows you to do unto others what you do not think should be
done to you, to with-hold decency from others, and to offer
joy and kindness only to those who fit your description of
"worthy". And with religiosity, no responsibility attaches to
you because you are "saved" and/or elite. Ta Da!! <br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
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